Chapter 157: line with translation of chapter title

If it weren't for the Taiping Sect's Yellow Turban Army continually receiving reinforcements from various forces,

It would have long been wiped out by the Da Qian dynasty.

If Hong Xiuquan brought those misfits into the Da Qian dynasty's high-stakes arena,

The Da Qian dynasty wouldn't even need to mobilize troops.

Even a single detachment could make them cry for their fathers and mothers!

That is, they ran into the oddball Da Sheng dynasty.

The disgrace within the dynasty.

Nowadays the Da Sheng dynasty can't even defeat some dynasties.

Between him and Hong Xiuquan, it's basically a chicken-and-duck squabble.

The previous border of the Da Sheng dynasty.

In the final years of the Da Sheng dynasty, the sunset on the horizon was like blood-stained, reflecting the weathered face of an old general.

He is the Guardian General Huo Wushuang, who has fought countless battles and earned magnificent merits for the Da Sheng dynasty.

However, the wheels of history roll forward; even the greatest hero cannot escape fate's tricks.

At this moment, he wears golden armor, holds a long spear, stands on the city tower, his gaze like a torch, looking toward the distant land about to fall.

Behind him, the Da Sheng dynasty's last unit of Dao Soldiers stands in neat ranks, their armor engraved with mysterious runes, revealing an unfathomable power.

These Dao Soldiers are the foundation of the Da Sheng dynasty, a perfect blend of cultivators and warriors, possessing the courage to fight a hundred against one.

However, now they face an unprecedented predicament.

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's great army presses the border, war drums thunder, iron hooves trample the land of the Da Sheng dynasty.

At such a tumultuous moment, scene after scene of heart‑chilling betrayal unfolds within the imperial city.

The empress dowager whom everyone calls the 'old witch', tempted by power and foreign allure, actually listened to slander, colluded with the enemy, and secretly plotted to betray Huo Wushuang and the last Dao Soldiers.

Huo Wushuang knows full well that behind all this lies the old witch's wicked schemes.

Yet, as a warrior, his duty compels him to die on the battlefield rather than retreat.

Filled with grief and helplessness, Huo Wushuang led the last Dao Soldiers out of the gate to meet the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's iron cavalry.

On the battlefield, blades flashed, flesh flew, the Dao Soldiers fought desperately, showing their bravery and tenacity.

However, the enemy outnumbered us, and the battle gradually turned against us.

Huo Wushuang led from the front, his spear like a dragon, charging left and right in the enemy formation, slaying countless foes.

Yet, he is old, and his strength is gradually failing.

Seeing the Dao Soldiers around him fall one by one, his sorrow is beyond words.

Just then, a black shadow flew out of the enemy ranks, straight for Huo Wushuang's head.

At the same time, several other figures appeared.

They rushed straight at the Dao Soldiers behind Huo Wushuang.

Huo Wushuang swung his spear, knocking the black shadow away, only to discover it was a black‑robed cultivator of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

These black‑robed cultivators are formidable; their strange internal energy emission leaves the Dao Soldiers struggling to cope.

Before this, they had been under Huo Wushuang's leadership.

They had already clashed countless times with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

They could hardly count how many Taiping Heavenly Kingdom troops they had slain.

And with that came massive exhaustion of stamina.

Uninterrupted campaigning.

This has left every member of the Dao Soldiers feeling intense fatigue.

Even the battle formations they maintain are beginning to wobble.

The condensed Dharma Aspect of the military is also flickering in and out.

But for some reason, reinforcements for the Da Sheng dynasty had not arrived for over ten days.

Huo Wushuang and these Dao Soldiers have not had proper rest for over ten days.

At this moment, several black‑robed practitioners of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom snorted, formed hand seals with both hands, and chanted.

Instantly, dark winds howled, ghostly shadows swarmed, and countless evil spirits formed from the internal energy of those black‑robed cultivators and the battlefield's killing intent materialized out of thin air, lunging at the Dao Soldiers.

These people turned out to be several unnamed Cultivation‑level experts!

Obviously, in this world of the Tianwu Continent,

Hong Xiuquan's implanted identity is also not simple.

Behind him likewise stands a mysterious force aiding him.

Even to deal with this last foundation of the Da Sheng dynasty,

they directly dispatched several Cultivation‑level experts to support the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

The Dao Soldiers are brave, but utterly exhausted.

They were originally enough to surround and kill the War God,

but now, facing these evil spirits, they are somewhat at a loss, only able to watch helplessly as the spirits devour their comrades' lives.

Huo Wushuang's heart sank; he knew today's battle could not be salvaged.

He glanced back at the Dao Soldiers behind him, seeing only despair and helplessness in their eyes.

At this moment, Huo Wushuang made a decision.

He suddenly straightened his back, pointed his spear to the sky, and a surge of righteous vigor burst forth from him.

Immediately after, he chanted, as if singing an ancient war song.

As his chant grew louder, spiritual energy from heaven and earth began to gather, forming a huge pillar of light that enveloped him.

The black-robed cultivators were shocked and dismayed upon seeing this; they knew Huo Wushuang was about to unleash a life‑sacrificing secret technique.

However, before they could react, they saw Huo Wushuang swing his spear; that pillar of light instantly shattered, turning into countless sharp qi blades that flew toward the enemy formation.

"Ah——"

Shrill cries rang out, and in an instant flesh and blood flew everywhere in the enemy ranks, a scene of carnage.

But ultimately the gap in their realms was too great.

Moreover, Huo Wushuang was already advanced in age.

Although the secret technique he unleashed at the cost of his life was immensely powerful,

it did not inflict serious harm on those few black‑robed cultivators.

Yet this strike also exhausted Huo Wushuang's last strength.

His body trembled and he collapsed to the ground, on the verge of falling.

The Dao Soldiers rushed forward upon seeing this, wanting to help him up, but Huo Wushuang waved his hand, indicating they need not do so.

"General!"

The Dao Soldiers cried out in grief, but Huo Wushuang merely smiled and shook his head.

He knew his mission had been fulfilled, and the last Dao Soldier unit of the Great Sheng Dynasty had already done its utmost.

As for that old witch and her wicked deeds, let future generations judge them.

Huo Wushuang slowly closed his eyes, his heart filled with endless sorrow and helplessness.

He had given everything for the Great Sheng Dynasty, yet in the end he could not alter the nation's fate.

Perhaps this is destiny's arrangement, he sighed in his heart.

With Huo Wushuang's fall, the last remaining Dao Soldier unit of the Great Sheng Dynasty also lost its backbone.

Though they still fought bravely, they no longer possessed their former vigor.

Finally, under the siege of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's army and several cultivators from across the world, they had no choice but to surrender.

On the city wall, the corpse of the old general Huo Wushuang lay still, his face still bearing defiance and fortitude.

Meanwhile, on the distant horizon, the evening glow had faded, replaced by a deep darkness that seemed to be devouring this once‑glorious dynasty.

(End of chapter)